Project information

Creative Christmas!

Creativity isn't just for Christmas.

Giving access to the arts to Lewisham's children and young people.

Proven to build confidence, foster friendships and give children a creative outlet in a safe space.

You're funding 10 FREE Saturday School and 30 FREE Holiday Course places.

September 2018 - May 2019

Charity information: Montage Theatre Arts

Montage Theatre Arts logo
  • Need

    Need

    There are a lack of facilities and creative outlets for Lewisham's poorest children.
    Lewisham is one of the 10% most deprived boroughs in the UK.
    27% of children under 19 years old live in households with no adult in employment.
    Many children find drama a 'release' to the stress at home.
    Opportunities and the resources to participate in them are scarce, with many children ending up on the streets and/or succumbing to peer pressure to get involved in crime and other anti-social behaviour

    Solution

    Montage has almost 20 years of experience in working with children, including the most disadvantaged and those with Special Educational Needs.

    They will now have somewhere fun to go on Saturdays and in their holidays. They will be stretched creatively and make new friends. And, by the end of each course, they'll have performed in front of friends and family - giving a real sense of achievement. Through discovering drama and natural creativity they will grow in self confidence.

  • Aims

    Aim 1

    To provide 30 bursaries for our holiday courses between October and April


    Activities

    » Running 6 Holiday Courses in the performing arts across the year, each culminating in a performance in costume and make-up for family and friends.

    What success will look like

    Success is uptake by 30 plus bursary recipients as evidenced by:
    - Attendance records
    - Student/teacher/referee/parent or carer feedback
    - Photo/video records (where possible

    Aim 2

    Funding 10 Saturday School bursaries across the school year


    Activities

    » Singing, Drama and Dance classes every Saturday with experienced teachers, many of them West End professionals.

    What success will look like

    Success is uptake by 10 plus bursary recipients as evidenced by:
    - Attendance records
    - Student/teacher/referee/parent or carer feedback
    - Photo/video records (where possible)

  • Impact

    Impact

    40 plus children and young people will have experiences that change their lives.

    The impact will be demonstrated through qualitative and quantitative feedback from students, teachers, referees and parents/carers re ongoing progress during and after the courses in line with our theory of change and impact measures as approved by London Youth Quality Mark.

    Risk

    Lack of attendance, behavioural issues or changing circumstances of bursary recipients.
    This will be dealt with by close liaison with referees and parents/carers as well as careful and experienced assessment by our Youth Programme Manager in the initial interviews and during the course.
    Potential drop-outs prior to the course will be mitigated by having a reserve list of potential students that we can offer places to.

    Reporting

    Each non-anonymous donor will receive:
    - A personal thank you for their donation
    - The quarterly newsletter giving updates on the
    holiday course and Saturday School bursary
    recipients.

    Due to safeguarding issues, no recipients will be identified by name but only in general terms.

  • Budget

    Budget - Project Cost: £10,000

    Loading graph....
      Amount Heading Description
      £2,550 Holiday Course Bursaries 30 bursaries across 5 Holiday Programmes at an average of £85 per bursary
      £6,660 Saturday School Bursaries 10 bursaries across 33 Saturdays at a cost of £660 per bursary per year
      £757 Administration costs To administer the entire bursary programme - 52.5 hours of General Management time
      £33 Sundries For class t-shirts and supplies
  • Background

    Location

    Lewisham is one of the most deprived boroughs in the UK. With no big business to apply to for sponsorship and council funding being cut, arts provision for children and young people is becoming the province of those who can afford to pay. Montage has been working in the borough for almost 20 years and is a charity rather than a business with a long-standing commitment to offering a wide bursary and concession programme.

    Beneficiaries

    Concessions (typically £70 for an 11 week term) are not enough so we are expanding our bursary provision to allow free access to children and young people in the most need of new social networks, confidence building and a creative outlet.

    On average 35% of Montage Theatre Arts attendees are from low-income families.

    As of last statistical monitoring approx. 55% of our participants are black or minority-ethnic in a borough where 43% of the population is black or ethnic minorities (BAME)

  • Why Us?

    Why Us?

    Montage has almost 20 years experience of providing dance, drama and singing classes to the community as well as an award-winning youth dance company, youth theatre company and Older People's programme. Performances across the borough and London-wide including Saddlers Wells and the South Bank. Experienced teachers including West End professionals and managers used to dealing with Special Educational Needs issues.

    Read more about the Charity running this project.

    People

    Richard Hay

    Youth Programme Manager - managing all our holiday programmes/Saturday School on site, Richard is ex youth theatre and South Bank Centre.

    Emma Hobday

    General Manager. Emma oversees the running of all Montage's activities and works with Richard to manage the bursary application process.

    Claire Atherton

    Claire is the administrator for all Montage's activities.

Montage at work and play

£3.42

pays for one hour of a holiday course

It was amazing and fun to work with Montage. I don't ever want to leave.

Montage Student